As matches show no sign of reducing and humanitarian access extremely limited, the crisis in Sudan has become one of the world’s largest emergencies, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) warned on Monday.
“This is a very, very sad milestone,” said Mamadou Dian Balde, UNHCR -Regional Director of East Africa and marked two years since the outbreak of the war.
“We see massive violations, massive shifts and a devastating influence on millions of people.“
A humanitarian disaster
The war that broke out in April 2023 between the Sudanese armed forces (SAF) and the paramilitary rapid support forces (RSF) has triggered a completely humanitarian disaster.
More than half the population – about 25 million people – requires humanitarian help And protection, but financing deficits and uncertainty have left large cuts of the country out of reach.
The UNHCR-led regional refugee plan of $ 1.8 billion for 2025-AS aimed to support 4.8 million refugees and members of the host community-in front of only 10 percent funded, Mr. Balde, and at risk essential services such as food, shelter, education and healthcare.
“Society that has very little shares what they have with refugees. It is an extraordinary show of solidarity,” he added, calling on the international community to intensify support for the most vulnerable throughout the region.
Thousands of life at risk
Hunger has reached catastrophic levels in Sudan, with famine confirmed in 10 areas and 17 more at riskAccording to the UN World Food Program (WFP).
In some areas, relief assistance is the only barrier that prevents hunger. However, vital operations are limited by uncertainty and lack of funds.
“Without immediate help, especially within famine or famine-risk areas, thousands of life are at risk“Said Makena Walker, WFP Acting Country Director in Sudan.
“We can scale up – but we need all parties to guarantee safe, unobstructed access to humanitarian convoys,” she added.
A mother sits with her eight -year -old daughter in a hospital in Sudan.
Children hit the hardest
Children remain among the hardest affected.
As per the FN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Child stays this year has risen by 83 percent compared to the beginning of 2024. Children also have a serious risk of sexual and gender -based violence or are forced into armed groups on top of already losing education.
In addition, an estimated 146,000 children are expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition this year, leaving them up to 11 times more likely to die than a well -nourished child.
An emergency in public health
The crisis has also spiraled into a Public Health EmergencyWith over 20.3 million people now in urgent need for medical treatment. Cholera, measles, malaria and dengue quickly spread over two -thirds of Sudan’s states, where cholera alone claims over 1,500 lives.
This situation reveals against a health infrastructure on the verge of collapse: 38 percent of hospitals in the most affected regions are non-functional and the remaining only partially operational, according to the UN World Health Organization (WHO).
Attacks on healthcare have increased by 156 attacks verified in the last two years, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries.
“In addition to being a famine crisis, the humanitarian situation in Sudan is also a protection and health crisis,” said Shible Sahbani, representative in the country.
The UN Health Agency is determined to continue working to improve health access for Sudan’s people. However, the recent cuts in funding have forced who should be scaled back, which potentially affects healthcare.
If funding does not flow, 4.7 million people targeting health interventions this year will be affected. Services at 335 health facilities must also be reduced, including trauma and emergency care.
A woman carries water to her shelter in a camp for internally displaced persons in eastern Sudan.
Works against the odds
Despite the challenges, the UN humanitis and partners continue their efforts to reach the most vulnerable communities with life -saving help.
Since the war began, WFP has provided over 13 million people with food and nutrition support. On its part, who has supported over a million people with healthcare, 75,000 treated seriously malnourished children and helped vaccinate 11.5 million children against polio and measles.
But aid workers warn that the situation is deteriorating quickly, especially in the states of Darfur and parts of Khartoum and Al-Jazirah (also spelled Gezira), where active matches and sieges cut off civilians from help.
Mr. Balde repeated the urgent need for the international community to help attenuate the cannons, “We call for peace, protection and sustained support – [only then] Normality can return and refugees can return home.“
